Alamogordo Daily News General Manager Carol Burgess has been selected to assume the additional role of general manager for the Ruidoso News.

Burgess was named general manager of the Ruidoso newspaper Wednesday. In her new role she will oversee both the Alamogordo Daily News and the Ruidoso News.

The Alamogordo Daily News and Ruidoso News are part of the Texas-New Mexico Partnership owned by Gannett Co. Inc. which is part of the USA Today Network. The Alamogordo and Ruidoso newspapers are sister papers to the El Paso Times in Texas; the Las Cruces Sun-News, Farmington Daily Times, Carlsbad Current-Argus, Silver City Sun-News and the Deming Headlight in New Mexico.

According to Malena Field, Senior HR Business Partner for Gannett, Burgess’ experience and knowledge of both markets and the results she has driven over the last several years has earned her this much deserved promotion.

President and Publisher of the El Paso Times Sergio Salinas said Burgess’ experience and commitment will serve well as general manager of the Ruidoso News.

“Carol's depth of experience, community commitment and strategic vision will serve us well in her new role and responsibility as General Manager of the Ruidoso News,” Salinas said. “She has the talent and capabilities to oversee both Alamogordo Daily News and the Ruidoso News. We look forward to her embracing the community and leading the direction for both newspapers.”

Burgess began her career at the Alamogordo Daily News in 2007 as a salesperson then moved her way up to advertising director in 2009. At the end of 2010, she became the general manager.

She said she believes the promotion will give her a chance to grow with the company by gaining more knowledge by working with another property.

“Personal growth is a big thing to me and my husband. It is a chance to embrace another community along with the community we already have,” Burgess said. “When they told me that they chose me, I was honored because that means that Sergio Salinas believes in me and he knows I could run an extra property. It’s very heartwarming that he believes in me.”

She said her goal for the Ruidoso News is to work with their staff as a team and to create a partnership with the Daily News.

“My goal and vision for Ruidoso is to not change anything, I don’t want to try and fix something that’s not broken,” Burgess said. “I want to work with the team and as a team, we will have growth there. We want the staff there to be very successful. Hopefully the two newspapers can work together as a team as opposed to separate entities, there will be more sharing of advertising and news, and helping with circulation.”

Burgess, who has lived in Ruidoso in the past, said she will embrace the community again and she is very familiar with the area.

“I met with the Ruidoso staff, and they are really positive about this. I used to live in Ruidoso for many years, so I’m very familiar with the area,” she said. “I’m not an outsider, I know how Ruidoso works with the community. I embrace this as a new challenge and a positive challenge.”

Burgess said she will be in charge of the entire Ruidoso News building, as she is with the Daily News. She will have the same responsibilities as she does in Alamogordo.

“In Alamogordo, just like Ruidoso, I’m in charge for the entire building,” she said. “I’m responsible for the financials of the building, all of the advertising for the building and overseeing any other aspects of the building.”

Burgess said she is excited about the future and the new challenges of overseeing both the Alamogordo Daily News and Ruidoso News properties.

“I am extremely excited about this, I love the challenge. I love the idea of furthering my career. I love the thought of working with a new staff,” she said. “Some of the staff I have known since I started at the Alamogordo Daily News, I’ve been interim general manager up there during some changeovers. I’m just happy to be working with them again.”